A surface parking lot in Belmont could be replaced by two 13-story mixed-use towers. New permits have been filed for 680 East Fordham Road, part of a series of recent applications that may transform the block near Cambreleng Avenue along the busy Fordham Road corridor.
Permit details from DOB records
Department of Buildings job notices filed on February 11 list two new 13-story building applications at 680 and 690 East Fordham Road, under job numbers X01358456 and X01358459. The plans call for 98 residential units at 680 and 92 at 690, for a combined 190 units and roughly 116,821 square feet across the initial filings. The records name Nikolai Katz Architect as architect of record and list Hen Vaknin of Bridge Asset Management as the filing representative. Those particulars were summarized by PincusCo.
How this fits into a larger plan
While the current DOB submissions cover 190 units for this first phase, the filings also reference a larger master plan that could bring roughly 370 units to the overall zoning lot. The Real Deal flagged the two-job filing as one of the week’s largest permit moves, and New York YIMBY reported a larger square-footage estimate for 680 East Fordham Road, underscoring how early permit numbers can shift as projects move through review. Developers and city agencies routinely refine unit counts and program mixes while plans advance through DOB and community oversight.
Why neighbors are watching
East Fordham Road was rezoned in the 2010s to promote denser mixed-use development and stronger commercial continuity, a change that opened the door to taller buildings but also stirred ongoing arguments over parking, traffic and neighborhood character. CityLand traces the rezoning history, and a 2021 Community Board 6 vote opposing a supermarket proposal on the 660 to 680 block highlighted local sensitivity to parking and retail changes, according to the Bronx Times. The new job entries list only seven on-site parking spaces at 680 East Fordham Road, a detail neighbors are likely to focus on during public review.
Next steps and timeline
With the job filings now in the system, the projects will move through Department of Buildings review and any required community board processes. Demolition permits for the existing surface lot have not yet been filed, and no estimated completion date has been announced. New York YIMBY notes that the application includes substantial ground-floor commercial space that could accommodate a grocer or multiple retail tenants, although lease activity will depend on approvals and market conditions. More filings, public notices and DOB milestones are likely in the coming months as plans for this Bronx block come into sharper focus.
